The Calgary Flames clinched the Northwest Division title (and home ice in the first round of the playoffs) with a 2-0 win over Colorado.

Meanwhile, with a Vancouver Canucks loss and Edmonton win, the Oilers and the Avalanche locked up the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference. Headed into the second season are: Detroit, Dallas, Calgary, Nashville, Anaheim, San Jose, Colorado & Edmonton.

I was going to start this thread for you but figured you ought to celebrate.

Phaneuf isn't going to win the Calder but Kiprusoff seems to be a shoe-in for the Vezina and a probable Hart finalist.

Edmonton really needs to move up to 7, don't you think? The Oilers and Stars are supposed to play every year.

And because we treat a monthly hockey thread as a cover-all to talk about whatever you and I like, how about young Sidney Crosby? 17 points in seven games to give him 97 with three games left to become the youngest player to ever score 100. Also needs four to tie Lemieux's rookie season and six to tie Dale Hawerchuk for most points by an 18 year old. I feel privileged to watch this dude play.

Originally posted by JustinShapiroI feel privileged to watch this dude play.

(edited by JustinShapiro on 14.4.06 1421)

Now you know how WE feel watching THE DION. With the sheer amount of depth Calgary has at the back end [Kiprusoff; the league's best Top 6 (TM)] and up & comers headed up here to supplement that [Brent Krahn; Mark Giordano, Richie Regehr & Matt Pelech], the Flames MAY actually be able to contend for more than a few years.

But I think you and I (and everyone else) can agree that this has been a FANTASTIC SEASON, and just what the sport needed to spring back from the lockout.

It's been a fantastic season from the viewpoint of the regular hockey fan. The type that wasn't going to be put off by the lockout anyways. The NHL hasn't grabbed that many of the on-the-fence fans back, yet, because of the OLN deal. It may get harped on a lot, but honestly having games on that channel and thus losing a good chunk of SportsCenter coverage diminishes the sport. NasCar gets more face time in the public eye than hockey, and that's what needs to be fized. The on-ice product is fine, yes, but people have to see it first.

That said, GO WINGS!! I was one of the ones just cringing for the other shoe to drop after the lockout, that the Wings would be mediocre at best. Boy have I never been happier to be proved wrong. The Wings just stepped UP this year and proved why they are hockey's franchise team. I know some Wings fans are questioning whether Manny can do it in the playoffs, but from what he's done this year he earned my faith. We're definitely gonna score, what with Datsuk-Zetterberg being nigh unstoppable and the veterans showing up where they need to. Lets go 700 for the Captain!

We're the middle children of history...no purpose or place. We have no Great War, no Great Depression. Our great war, our defining crucible, is a spiritual war.